HERCULES, Calif. — June 6, 2017 — Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) today announced the launch of an RT-PCR kit that allows researchers to simultaneously screen samples for Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, DENV4), and chikungunya (CHIKV) arbovirus RNAs. The assay comes with all the controls researchers need to internally validate the results. This assay is approved for Research Use Only and is currently available only outside the U.S.

The ZDC Multiplex RT-PCR Assay (Research Use Only) is a one-step reverse-transcription, real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and quantification of ZIKV, DENV, and CHIKV RNAs from a large range of specimen types.

“Our assay provides researchers an effective and reliable tool for the concurrent detection of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya RNAs in a single reaction tube,” said Luca Boveri, PhD, Bio-Rad Global Product Manager, Gene Expression. “Researchers can now rely on a wet-lab validated tool whose key components have been manufactured in GMP-approved facilities and extensively tested to generate consistent results.”

Independent screening for Zika, dengue, and chikungunya can be time-consuming and challenging, particularly when the number of samples is sizable or the amount of starting material is limited, as is often the case when dealing with serum, blood, or even mosquitoes. By taking advantage of a multiplex setup that includes the capability to detect all three viral targets and up to two different controls in a single tube, Bio-Rad’s assay delivers a sensitive tool that maintains excellent linearity and efficiency while also providing a streamlined workflow.

Bio-Rad has validated its assay on popular real-time PCR platforms, thus assuring investigators of consistency across different instruments. Bio-Rad rigorously evaluated and optimized the assay for specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and efficiency.